[MD] The Moral Landscape

[Steven Peterson]

Hi Platt,

Platt:
> Sam Harris knocks religion like other "educated liberal types" and like them
> is apparently oblivious to the fact that his concerns about "nuclear
> proliferation, climate change, the crisis in education, poverty across the
> world" and similar liberal ain't-it-awful afflictions spring straight out of
> Western religious teachings. In fact, I'm always amused by the responses I
> get from this group when I asked them to express their moral principles.
> Invariably their answers reflect religious concepts such as love thy
> neighbor, treat others as you would be treated, and help others "in need."

Steve:
What are you suggesting we are supposed to make of the fact that
sometimes religions get it right when it comes to values? That they
are making true claims about virgin births and the like? Surely not.

If they get something right about values it is because they happened
to stumble upon a true belief about human flourishing. But in such
cases, the basis for saying that the belief is true is whether or not
the belief does or does not contribute to the evolution of static
patterns toward dynamic Quality.

It is also obvious that religions frequently get things wrong when it
comes to values. And religions often disagree about what is moral. How
do we decide who is right? What both Pirsig and Harris promote is
rational inquiry into values. Neither one thinks values are a matter
of faith. The way Pirsig and Harris think we ought to decide in
conflicts about what is moral is through rational inquiry, and whether
or not a particular value does or does not agree with a particular
Western religious tradition is completely beside the point of whether
or not it is moral.

Best,
Steve